Continuous rod circumference measurement and control



April 30, 1968 E. w. cox ETAL 3,380,351

CONTINUOUS ROD CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL Filed Feb. 14, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

FIG] April 30, 1968 I I E. w. cox ETAL CONTINUOUS ROD CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL Filed Feb. 14, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m ol April 30, 1968 E. wfcOx ETAL CQNTINUOUS ROD CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL Filed Feb. 14, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm? H April 30, 1968 E. w. cox ETAL CONTINUOUS ROD CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 14, 1966 FIG.|2

April 30, 1968 E. w. cox ETAL 3,380,351

CONTINUOUS ROD CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 14, 1966 MAIN MOTOR CONTROL 3,380,351 CONTINUOUS ROD CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENT AND CONTRQL Edward W. flex and Ernest Qashwell, Richmond. Va, assignors to Philip Morris Incorporated, New Yorir, N.Y., a corporation of Virginia Filed Feb. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 526,986 11 Claims. (Cl. 931) The invention relates to apparatus with which the circumference of continuous fabricated rods such as cigarette rods or cigarette filter rods may be measured and controlled automatically during manufacture.

The apparatus is particularly useful in the forming of wrapped cigarette filter rods. Present manufacturing standards of the tobacco industry are exacting and prescribe a finished cigarette filter rod circumference tolerance of not more than about a plus or minus 0.1 millimeter.

In the general class of apparatus to which the present appertains, filler material, such as a tow of filaments in case of making a cigarette filter rod, is advanced through a collecting horn onto a continuous strip of wrapper paper which is progressively shaped into a cylinder around the tow. As strip and tow advance together, adhesive is applied to a tangentially extending longitudinal edge of the strip, and the edge is then folded down onto the rod in a final rod forming section in the apparatus referred to in the art as a garniture.

In accordance with the present invention the final rod forming and shaping section embodies a suitably shaped folder plate which bears against the rod, the folder plate being supported for floating movement laterally of the travel of the rod and adapted thereby to vary the application of pressure on the rod material and its wrapper strip and correspondingly to vary the size of the rod. The adjustment of the folder plate is automatically effected and controlled through a unique association of elements or components including a combination of an air gage for gaging the rod circumference and having an air conduit connection therefrom to a manometer which is thereby made responsive to fluid pressure variations in the conduit engendered by variations in the rod circumference. The manometer controls through electrical circuitry 21 reversible electric motor which has operative connections for adjusting the position of the folder plate relative to the rod. The system therefore automatically controls the size of the rod within limits dictated by settings of the manometer, the latter further including an indicator from which the rod size can be read visually by an operator.

The invention includes novel features and combinations of parts including structural means for rendering the final rod forming and shaping section quickly responsive to pressure conditions manifested at the air gage and capable of adjustment to a fine degree of accuracy.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of a representative embodiment of the principles of the invention to be described. The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Reference should be had to the following detail description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic layout of a system with which cigarette filter rods may be produced and wherein the apparatus of the present invention may be utilized, some parts being broken away for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the folder plate showing its position in the final rod forming and shaping 3,386,351 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 section and the manner in which it is supported for floating movement therein.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIGURE 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the final rod forming and shaping section similar to FIGURE 2 further illustrating the constructional details of the floating folder plate and the motor driven control used to vary the positioning of the folder plate relative to the filter rod.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIGURE 4.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line VIVI of FIGURE 3 showing the manner of connecting one end of the folder plate to the base plate of the final rod forming and shaping section.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views as taken along the lines VIIVII, VIII-VIII, IXIX and XX respectively in FIGURE 3.

FIG. 11 is an end elevational view of the reversible motor for controlling the positioning of the folder plate as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIGURE 5.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of the fluid system with which the rod circumference is gaged, any variations in the specified circumference being automatically detected in the control manometer, from whence is initiated a signal for producing the compensating measures to maintain the variations within the prescribed limits.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the air gaging head through which the rod travels and the circumference thereof measured pneumatic-ally.

FIG. 14 is a wiring diagram of the control circuit used for controlling the positioning of the floating folder plate responsive to circumferential variations in the rod detected in the air gaging head.

Throughout the description like reference numerals are used to denote like parts in the drawings.

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly suited for measuring and controlling the size of a cigarette filter rod during the formation thereof, the filter rod being cut thereafter into sections comprising individual cigarette filters or plugs. It may also be used for fabricating composite filter rods wherein the continuous rod is comprised of a plurality of plugs wrapped in a wrapper sheet, and it is suitable for fabricating regular cigarettes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the outside dimensions of other continuous tubular articles also may be controlled within specified tolerances with the apparatus of the present invention and the concepts disclosed thus are not limited to the representative embodiment described.

The overall system with which the filter rod is formed wiil first be described in general terms and the specific constructional details of the components therein described in greater detail later in the description. The system is generally similar to that of tobacco rod forming machines and is diagrammatically depicted in FIG- URE 1 wherein it will be noted that the filter material 10 which may be a tow comprised of several thousand small filaments is drawn from a suitable supply source and enclosed within a paper strip 12 drawn from a paper supply roll 14. The paper strip 12 advances over a roller 16 onto a fabric belt 18 which travels over suitable guide and driving rolls including the large drum 20 and additional guiding and tensioning rolls 22 and 24. The arrangement of the tape or belt 18 is generally similar to that heretofore employed in rod forming machines of the type disclosed in the patent to Molins et al. 2,737,186 and the patent to Wagner, 3,060,814. The loose tow 10 is gathered in a horn 26 from whence it is directed in a more densified mass onto the upper surface of the paper strip 12 supported on belt 18, the paper and tow then being advanced through a preliminary folding means indicated at 28. The preliminary folding means 28 comprises an elongated member of known construction which is suitably slotted to permit the advance of the paper strip and tow therethrough and which functions to Wind the paper strip into a cylindricai form as generally depicted in FIGURE 8. However, an upstanding tangentially directed longitudinal edge is left in the paper strip as it exits from the preliminary folding means. Positioned adjacent the preliminary folding means 28 is a paste roller 32 which applies a film of an adhesive to the inner face of the upstanding edge 30 of the wrapper sheet to permit securement of the edge against the body of the rod later in the final rod forming and shaping section.

On leaving the preliminary folding means 28, the partly formed rod advances through the final rod forming and shaping section generally denoted at wherein the longitudinal edge 3r) of the wrapper sheet is folded downwardly against the body of the rod to give it its generally cylindrical final form. The final rod forming and shaping section 40 includes a folder plate 42 having a suitably grooved surface which is adapted to contact the periphery of the filter rod and fold the wrapper sheet as described above to give it its final shape. Furthermore, the diameter and hence the circumference of the filter rod 44 can be altered by changing the lateral positioning of the folder plate 42 with respect thereto. The folder plate is supported on top of a spring loaded stud 79 in such manner that it floats above a suitable base plate 46 and the curved surface thereon forms with a slot formed in the base plate 46. a parti-cylindrical passage in which the filter rod and belt 18 advance. On exiting from the folding plate 42, the filter rod passes under a heater device 48 generally similar to the type described in the previously mentioned Molins et al. patent which heats the adhesive to effect a permanent adhesion of the overlapped part to the main body of the paper wrapper sheet. On exit from the heater device 48, the filter rod 44 advances onwardly in the direction of a gaging device 52 and off the web belt 18 which rides down onto the drum 20 as shown.

The advancing filter rod 44 then passes through the air gaging head 52 which measures the circumference of the filter rod for any variation therein which is outside predetermined tolerances and initiates appropriate compensating measures to bring the circumference back within the requisite tolerances as will appear. The air gaging head 52 is connected by means of a suitable conduit 54 with a manometer control device 56 which functions responsively to variations in air pressure at the air gaging head, the pressure in the latter being a function of the rod circumference. The manometer device 56 in turn, and responsive to the detected rod measurement in the air gaging head, controls the operation of a reversible electric motor shown generally at 60 in FIG- URE 1, which is used to vary the lateral positioning of the folder plate respective to the rod and hence the circumference of the rod. The latter is elfected by means of an adjustment screw 62 hearing against the top of the folder plate and controlled by rotation of the motor 60. On leaving the air gaging head, the filter rod is sectioned by a suitable cutter device 64 into lengths suited for use on cigarette making machines.

The more specific constructional features of the apparatus of the invention will now be described. FIG- URES 2 to 11 inclusive illustrate the construction of the system at the final rod forming and shaping section 40. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 and 7 to 10, the folder plate 42 is of special configuration as will appear and is supported on top of a base plate 46 (commonly referred to as a compressor box) of known construction and forming part of the machinery described in the above-mentioned Molins patent. The folder plate 42 is adapted to have vertical movement only so as to allow adjustment of the size of the passage through which the filter rod 44 is advanced. To that end, the folder plate 42 is connected with the compressor box 46 in the manner best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 having at one end a groove 70 wherein extends a tongue 71 on an insert 72 formed to be connected to the compressor box by means of a set screw 73 or similar fastener. The other end of the folder plate is guided by means of a right-angled bracket member 74 secured to a garniture support member 75 in the system and on which rests the compressor box 46. Thus, the tongue and groove arrangement along with the bracket member preclude the folder plate 42 from having movement in other than a vertical direction.

The manner in which the folder plate 42 is supported for floating vertical movement may best be discerned by reference to FIGURE 6 wherein it will be seen that the garniture support member is provided with several vertical concentric holes 76, 77, one of which receives a compression spring 78, the latter supportingly receiving a shouldered stud 79 which extends vertically upwardly through the compressor box 46 and into abutment with the underface of the folder plate 42. The action of the spring 78 on the stud 79 is such that the latter normally tends to bias the folder plate 42 upwardly.

The circumference of the fully formed filter rod 44 is controlled by the size of the passage in the final rod forming and shaping section through which it passes and formed by a slot 80 in the compressor box 46 and a curved surface 81 at the inner lower corner edge of the folder plate 42 (FIGURES 8, 9 and 10). Thus, the compressor box 46 is provided with a semi-cylindrical slot 80 extending longitudinally therein and providing a track in which the filter rod and fabric belt 18 advance in the path noted, for example, in FIGURE 3. The curved surface 81 on the folder plate 42 also extends longitudinally thereof a distance from the point of first entry of the filter rod thereunder to the location of heater unit 48. The contour of curved surface 81 is such that it serves two functions, i.e., it folds over the longitudinal edge 30 of the wrapper sheet to form a fully cylindrical filter rod, and it provides a surface for applying even pressure against the final formed rod to vary its circumference as will appear later in the description. The shape of slot 80 in the compressor box and the curved surface on the folder plate 42 may be readily discerned by reference to FIGURES 7-10. The folder plate 42 is provided along its upper surface with an inclined recess 84 and a stepped down shoulder 85 to provide clearance for a fiat heating surface of the heater unit 48 to fit against the finally formed filter rod.

The adjustment of the size of the passage and hence the circumference of the finally formed filter rod is controlled by adjusting the lateral positioning of the folder plate 42 relative to the filter rod. This positioning is effected by means of the reversible motor-adjustment screw arrangement shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 11 and now to be described. The reversible motor 60 is of known type and is mounted on a suitable bracket assembly depicted generally at in FIGURE 5. The bracket assembly 90 includes a blocklike base member 91 which carries a number of upright tubes 99 in which extend threaded rods with which the motor 60 is connected to the base member. The base member 91 terminates at its lower rear side in a vertical flange extension 92 which with the base member proper abuts with the front side of the garniture support member 75, compressor box 46 and folder plate 42 when the motor is mounted in operative position. For mounting the motor, flange extension 92 is provided with several openings 1% (FIG. 11) receiving each a mounting screw 101 extending through the openings and into the garniture support member. The motor shaft 93 (FIGURE 4) has fixed thereto a drive pulley '94 which by means of an elastic drive belt 95 drives a pulley 9'6 fixed to the adjustment screw 62 as seen in FIG- URE 11, the adjustment screw being threaded with a loose fit in a carrier arm 97 pivoted by means of a headed pivot 102 to base member 91 and extending outwardly horizontally therefrom. The carrier arm 97 is adapted to be normally positioned such that the adjustment screw 62 is located over the folder plate 42 as shown in full lines in FIGURE 5. On the other hand, if it becomes necessary to remove the folder plate 42 from the apparatus this may be done by swinging the carrier arm 97 clear as will now be described. As seen in FIGURE 5, the elastic drive belt 95 exerts a pull on the carrier arm 97 tending to rotate the latter clockwise on pivot 102 and against a stop pin 103 fixed to the bracket assembly 90. By rotating the carrier arm 97 counter-clockwise, the elastic effect of the belt 95 is overcome and the carrier arm swings to the position generally denoted in dashed lines in FIGURE 5 wherein it is free of the folder plate 42 and the latter can be lifted vertically out of the apparatus.

In brief, the motor-adjustment screw functions to vary the lateral positioning of the folder plate 42 relative to the filter rod. Thus, as the motor 60 is rotated in one direction at a speed of about one r.p.m. responsive to detection in the air gaging head 52 of an oversized filter rod circumference, the set screw 62 will be rotated correspondingly and advanced axially downwardly to bear against the folder plate 42 and thus diminishing the size of the passage through which the filter rod 44 is advancing to decrease the circumference thereof. Conversely, a rotation of the motor 60 in an opposite direction will advance the set screw 62 upwardly permitting the folder plate 42 to float upwardly under the force applied to stud 79 by the compression spring 78 thereby enlarging the size of the passage and correspondingly the circumference of the filter rod.

Accurate measurement of the circumference of the filter rod is effected by means of the air gaging head 52 shown in sectional view in FIGURE 13. The air gaging head comprises a generally cylindrically shaped body 110 having an insert 111 therein at one end, the latter having a bell-shaped entrance 112 into which the filter rod 44 advances. The air gaging head also includes a pair of spaced apart annular gaging discs 113, 114 having central aligned apertures through which the rod is adapted to travel. The discs 113, 114 are readily removable from the body 119 for replacement by discs having apertures of different sizes thereby rendering the air gaging head useable for measuring the circumference of outsized rods not readily measured with the discs 113, 114. Removably mounting the discs 113, 114 in body 110 also facilitates removal for cleaning as the gage builds up a residue of paper powder over a period of time. Connected with the body 110 between the gaging discs 113, 114 is a nipple 115 by means of which air under pressure may be directed into the gaging head. Also, an air escape sleeve 116 having radial exit ports 117 is mounted within the body 11!) adjacent the insert 111. The exit ports 117 align with similar openings in the body 110. The air gaging head is of known construction and functions on the principle of the variation of pressure attending the flow of a fluid through an orifice of variable dimension. Thus, as the filter rod 44 passes through the gaging head, the pressure therein will have a specific value or norm for a particular circumference of the rod. An oversized circumference of the rod will be associated with a pressure increase above the norm in the air supply connection at nipple 115, and conversely, a smaller circumference will give a pressure decrease from the norm. These variations in pressure from the norm associated with the specified diameter or circumference of the filter rod are communicated to the fluid system or manometer device 56 for the purposes and in the manner now to be described.

The fluid system or manometer device 56 which detects the rod circumference of the filter rod passing through the air gaging head and from whence is initiated through a controller 120 (FIG. 1) a signal to compensate for rod circumference variations by adjusting the position of folder plate 42 is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 12. The system includes a manometer instrument which is of a type known in the art and does not per se form part of the present invention. In general the instrument 130 is a dual tube well type having two legs 131, 132 connected at their lower ends by a suitable common conduit 133 with a liquid supply well 134. The upper ends of the legs 131, 132 have a similar common connection 135 with a conduit 136 forming part of a compressed air network. The compressed air network is supplied with air under pressure from a suitable source (not shown), the air being directed through pressure regulators 137, 138 which maintain the pressure at a predetermined value with great accuracy. Air is delivered from the regulators to the top of the manometer instrument 130 through conduit 136 to maintain a head on an electrically conductive liquid 140 in legs 131, 132. Air is also delivered through a conduit 141 to the air gaging head 52 with a branch 142 therefrom maintaining a head on the liquid in supply well 134. The supply well 134 is provided with fill and drain plugs 143 as shown. The manometer instrument has a visual scale indicator 144 which is preferably graduated in fractions of millimeters to permit reading the rod circumference directly. Scale calibration may be effected through adjustable restrictions 145 in conduit 141. Fixed restrictions 146 may be provided in conduits 133 and 136 as well as a pressure balance adjustment device 147 connected with conduit 136 which is also used when making initial setting of the system. The legs 131, 132 of the manometer instrument are provided with electrical contact rods 151, 152 respectively, which extend downwardly in the legs different distances being supported therein for adjustment by means of adjustment nuts 153. One contact rod 151 serves as the oversize contact, and is normally not contacted by the electrically conductive fluid 140 as long as the filter rod circumference is within the prescribed tolerances. The other contact rod 152 serves as the undersize contact, and is normally contacted by the fluid 140 which remains at the requisite contact levels as long as the filter rod circumference is within the required range.

The fluid system functions on basis of a pressure differential between the air gaging head 52 and the air pressure head in the legs 131, 132 of the manometer instrument. The air pressure within air gaging head 52 is a function of the circumference of the filter rod passing therethrough. For the prescribed circumference this pressure is at a predetermined value, a value which sustains the equilibrium condition or level of the fluid 140 within the manometer instrument at about the level shown in FIGURE 12. If the filter rod circumference deviates from the prescribed dimension by being larger than normal, the escape of air to the atmosphere at gaging head 52 is more restricted thereby increasing the air pressure in conduit 142 and reservoir 134 above the norm and forcing the liquid higher in the manometer legs 131 and 132 until it reaches the end of contact rod 151 which causes the electrical control system to be energized to lower the folder control plate 42 to reduce the size of the rod 44. Conversely, if the rod 44 is undersize the escape of air to the atmosphere at the gaging head 52 will be less restricted and the air pressure in conduit 142 and reservoir 134 will be lowered below the norm causing the liquid in manometer legs 131 and 132 to fall until it falls below the end of contact rod 152 at which time the electrical circuitry will be energized to permit the folder control plate 42 to rise and thereby increase the size of the rod.

The contact rods 151, 152 as well as the conductive fluid 140 all form part of the electrical circuitry of the overall system which will now be described. The electrical circuitry is illustrated in FIGURE 14 and includes a main drive motor (not shown) for driving the various components in the system including the drum 20, the motor being connected with a motor control unit 201 which operates relay R in the control network as will be described. The control network for controlling the motor 60 is connected with AC power as shown, and includes indicator lamps 222, 223 respectively to denote when motor 60 is operating and the direction in which it is turning, i.e., adjusting the folder plate 42 to compensate for either an undersize or oversize filter rod 44. The network further includes relays 230, 240 associated respectively with manometer instrument legs 131, 132 and the contact rods 151, 152 therein. I

The relays 23%), 240 are adapted to operate to connect an indicator lamp and the motor 60 in circuit with AC power. As a safety feature, power cannot be supplied to motor 60 except when contacts CR CR are closed in the manner to be described shortly. Relay 230 includes a first set of contacts 231 adapted to connect power to indicator lamp 222 and another set 232 to connect motor 60 with power in a manner to drive it in one direction. Similarly, relay 240 has contacts 241, 242 to connect respectively the indicator lamp 223 with power and the motor 60 with power to rotate it in an opposite direction.

The operation of the circuit arrangement will be described now. When the main motor is connected with power, the main motor control 201 causes relay R to be energized thereby completing a circuit from the AC power source to the time relay device TR which on being energized causes, after about a -30 seconds delay. a bimetallic relay switch TR; to close. The closing of relay switch TR energizes control relay CR associated with and operative to close contacts CR CR connected in circuit with the motor 64 and the contacts 232, 242 of relays 230, 240 respectively as shown. Unless the contacts CR CR close, motor 60 cannot be operated. Relay 230 is a normally closed type but its contacts 231, 232 are intended to be held open by the relay coil 233 which is energized whenever the electrically conductive liquid 140 in the manometer instrument leg 131 is not in contact with the rod 151. The operation of relay 230 is controlled by an electronic controller 270 which includes an electron tube 271 connected with the relay coil 233, a power supply battery 272, a bias battery 273 and the manometer leg 131 as shown. When the liquid 140 is out of contact with rod 151, the electron tube 271 conducts and current is supplied to energize coil 233 thereby holding open the contacts of relay 230. When the liquid rises in leg 131 to contact rod 151, a bias is applied to the electron tube 271 and it becomes non-conductive deenergizing coil 233 and the relay contacts 241, 242 close connecting motor 60 with the AC power to operate it in one direction.

Relay 249 on the other hand, is a normally open type, and its contacts 241-241 remain open as long as the electrically conductive liquid 146 in the manometer instrument leg 132 is in contact with the rod 152. Electronic controller 270 also includes an electron tube 281 connected with the relay coil 243, a power supply battery 282, a bias battery 283 and the manometer leg 132 as shown. With the liquid 140 in contact with rod 152, the electron tube 281 is non-conductive as a bias is applied thereto. On the other hand, when the liquid falls out of contact with rod 152, the bias is removed and electron .tube 281 becomes conductive energizing coil 243 and the relay contacts 241-242 close contacting m0- tor 60 with AC power to operate it in an opposite direction.

Further understanding of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the manner in which the system operates, concurrent reference being made to FIGURES 1, 12, 13 and 14. The filter rod is formed by feeding the tow 1G and wrapper sheet 12 through the preliminary folding means 28 as previously described. Adhesive is then applied to the upstanding edge 30 of the Wrapper sheet and the filter rod advances through the final rod forming and shaping section where the wrapping is completed. The filter rod then advances onwardly and through the air gaging head 52. Assuming that the prescribed circumference of the filter rod should be 25 mm. and that the fluid system has been calibrated and set to control for that circumference allowing for variations in under and oversize of not more than 0.1 mm., the system will continue to operate without further change unless and until the rod circumference falls outside the prescribed tolerances. If the filter rod as formed has a circumference less than the desired value, for example less than 24.9 mm., as it passes through the air gaging head 52 the air pressure therein and in conduit 142 (FIG. 12) will be less than the predetermined value associated with a correctly sized rod and the conductive liquid in the leg 132 of the manometer instrument will fall below the level corresponding to 24.9 mm. and out of contact with the contact rod 152. The latter effect will remove the bias in electron tube 281 causing it to become conductive and energizing relay coil 243 and thereby closing the contacts of relay 241). With relay 240 closed the motor 60 will be connected with power and will rotate in an appropriate direction causing adjustment screw 62 to move upwardly axially permitting folder plate 42 to rise thereby increasing the size of the passage in the final rod forming and shaping section 40 through which .the rod passes and increasing the rod size. When the now properly dimensioned filter rod reaches the air gaging head 52 its passage therein will cause the air pressure therein to increase slightly to the value necessary to bring the fluid level in the leg 132 back up to a point where the fluid contacts rod 152 at which point bias is applied to the electron tube to deenergize relay coil- 24% and relay 240 opens to shut down the motor 60. If the filter rod being formed is oversize, that is to say it has a circumferential measurement greater than, for example 25.1 mm., the air pressure in the air gaging head 52 and the conduit 142 will be at a value greater than the predetermined value. This higher pressure level will force the fluid 140 in the legs of the manometer instrument upwardly therein until the fluid in leg 131 contacts the contact rod 151 to cause a bias to be applied to tube 271 making it non-conductive and having the effect of deenergizing relay coil 233. The contacts of relay 230 now will close and connect motor 60 with power and it will rotate in an opposite direction. The effect of the operation of the motor now is to lower the adjustment screw 62 thereby and in turn to lower folder plate 42 and decrease the size of the passage through which the rod advances, the circumferential dimension of the formed filter rod correspondingly decreasing. As soon as the now properly sized rod passes through the air gaging head and the latter detects a correct circumference, the fluid level in the manometer tube 131 will fall out of contact with rod 151 removing the bias on tube 27-1 and thereby causing energizing of relay coil 234 which opens the contacts of relay 230 stopping motor 60.

The apparatus of the system will continue to operate thereafter as long as desired, the circumference of the filter rod being continuously gaged and controlled in the manner described.

Various other changes and different embodiments of the apparatus could be made within the principles described or indicated in the foregoing, and it is intended that all matter set out therein or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a continuous rod forming machine in which a filler material is enclosed in a continuou wrapper strip to form the rod, the combination of a folder device through which the strip and filler are advanced to wrap the strip around the filler, the folder device including adjustable means for varying the size of the rod issuing therefrom, power means for operating said adjustable means, fluid gaging means through which the finished rod is advanced including a fluid conduit wherein the pressure various according to the size of the rod, a manometer device connected with said fluid conduit and responsive to variations of pressure therein, and means for controlling said power means in accordance with the response of said manometer device to variations of pressure in said fluid conduit to control the setting of said adjustable means and thereby maintain the rod size within predetermined limits.

2. A rod forming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the manometer device embodies liquid column means, the height of the liquid varying with the pressure in said fluid conduit, and means for controlling said power means comprising electrical circuitry operably responsive to variations of the height of the liquid.

3. A rod forming machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein said electrical circuitry includes signal means operable to indicate when the rod size is outside the predetermined limits.

4. A rod forming machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein said liquid column means comprises a pair of liquid column tubes, the height of the liquid in said tubes varying with the pressure in said fluid conduit, an electrical contact in each of said tubes, the electrical contact in one tube being located therein at a location lower than that of the electrical contact in the other tube, said elecrical contacts each being connected with said electrical circuitry, the contact at said lower location being operative when the level of liquid falls below the location thereof to operate said power means in one direction, the contact in said other tube being operative when the level of liquid rises above the location of said contact to operate said power means in an opposite direction.

5. A rod forming machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein the electrical contacts in each of said tubes comprises a contact rod, the contact rods being supported in the tubes on adjustment nuts with which the positioning of the rods in the tube may be varied.

6. A rod forming machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein the liquid in said tubes is an electrically conductive liquid comprising with said contact rods switch means in said electrical circuitry, said power means being connected with said electrical circuitry by relay means, said switch means being operative to close the contacts of said relay means.

7. In a continuous rod forming machine in which a filler material is enclosed in a continuous wrapper strip to form the rod, the combination of a folder device through which the strip and filler are advanced to wrap the strip around the filler, the folder device having a shaped forming plate adjustable laterally with repsect to the travel of the rod thereby to vary the size of the rod issuing therefrom, power means for adjusting said plate, fluid gaging means through which the finished rod is advanced including a fluid conduit wherein the pressure varies according to the size of the rod, a manometer device connected with said fluid conduit and responsive to variations of pressure therein, and means for controling said power means in accordance with the response of said manometer device to variations of pressure in said fluid conduit to control the setting of said adjustable plate and thereby maintain the rod size within predetermined limits.

8. A rod forming machine in accordance with claim 7 wherein a spring engages said shaped forming plate and normally acts to bias said plate laterally in a direction away from the rod, said power means comprising an electric motor operatively connected with said plate for urging said plate laterally in the direction of said rod against the bias of said spring.

9. A rod forming machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said electric motor is a reversible type and is operatively connected with an adjustment screw engaging said plate, said electric motor rotating said adjustment screw thereby to control the lateral position of the plate.

10. A rod forming machine in accordance with claim 9 wherein said electrical motor is mounted on a bracket supported adjacent said plate, said machine further comprising a carrier arm mounted on said bracket and extending over said plate, said adjustment screw being supported in said carrier arm.

11. A rod forming machine in accordance with claim 10 wherein said carrier arm is mounted on said bracket for pivoting movement in a plane parallel to the direction of travel of the rod, said electric motor being operatively connected with said adjustment screw by an elastic means, said elastic means being effective to pivot said carrier arm in one direction against a stop on said bracket to hold the carrier arm in operative position over said plate, said carrier arm being swingable in an opposite direction to permit removal of said plate form the machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,952,262 9/1960 Pocock et al. 13121 3,306,304 2/1967 Molins et al 13121 3,345,917 10/1967 Agett et al. 93-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 888,479 1/ 1962 Great Britain.

WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,380,351 April 30, 1968 Edward W. Cox et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

t. Column 1', line 19, after "present" insert invention Column 3, line 31, before "belt" insert fabric Column 7, line 48, "241-241" should read 241-242 Column 9,"1ine 1 "various" should read varies Signedand sealed this 7th day of October 1969.

(SEAL) Attestz Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesti ng Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A CONTINUOUS ROD FORMING MACHINE IN WHICH A FILLER MATERIAL IS ENCLOSED IN A CONTINUOUS WRAPPER STRIP TO FORM THE ROD, THE COMBINATION OF A FOLDER DEVICE THROUGH WHICH THE STRIP AND FILLER ARE ADVANCED TO WRAP THE STRIP AROUND THE FILLER, THE FOLDER DEVICE INCLUDING ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR VARYING THE SIZE OF THE ROD ISSUING THEREFORM, POWER MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS, FLUID GAGING MEANS THROUGH WHICH THE FINISHED ROD IS ADVANCED INCLUDING A FLUID CONDUIT WHEREIN THE PRESSURE VARIOUS ACCORDING TO THE SIZE OF THE ROD, A MANOMETER DEVICE CONNECTED WITH SAID FLUID CONDUIT AND RESPONSIVE TO VARIATIONS OF PRESSURE THEREIN, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID POWER MEANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESPONSE OF SAID MANOMETER DEVICE TO VRARIATIONS OF PRESSURE IN SAID FLUID CONDUIT TO CONTROL THE SETTING OF SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS AND THEREBY MAINTAIN THE ROD SIZE WITHIN PREDETERMINED LIMITS. 